Page 45 of On the Slopes of Tahoe
With Rory.
That was definitely not on my Lake Tahoe bingo card, but here we are. I wanted to kill Wes when I unpacked and found the box of condoms in my suitcase with a note that saidjust in case.If he ever finds out I made use of them with his sister, I imagine he’ll want to killmeinstead. My lip quirks up in a smile and I shake my head, unwilling to feel any sort of regret over what happened.
With the inky darkness beyond the windows downstairs, you wouldn’t know it’s already five a.m. The kitchen light is on ahead of me, but I take a detour for the lamp in the living room, squinting to make out the shadow of someone sitting on the couch.
“Rory?”
There she sits, legs stretched long in front of her, leaning back against the arm rest with a blanket over her fully clothed body. “Hi. I didn’t want to be in the way if Willow needed you.”
I crouch down in front of her and interlace our fingers. “Thank you for thinking of her. Her finding you in my bed would not have been good.”
She glances down at our hands, one of hers still held in mine while her other fiddles with the blanket.
“I’m not saying last night wasn’t good. It was great. I just don’t think I want Willow to know about it. Is that okay?” I internally plead with her to say yes. It’s the only answer that’ll allow this to work.
She looks up and nods, the worry over my words lifting from her features. The side of her mouth tips up in a smile before she bites the bottom one between her teeth. “Itwasgreat, wasn’t it.”
“Oh, it definitely was.” I lift up higher on the balls of my feet so I can press my lips to hers. I want to lay her out on the couch, but it’s too risky.
“Do you want some sweats or something to wear if you’re going to go back to sleep?” I ask, running my hand up her jean-clad leg under the blanket.
She shakes her head. “Nah, I think I’m up now. I go back to work today, so I can’t stay too long before I need to go home and get ready.”
I stand up and stretch, realization dawning that I should probably put some sweats on over my boxers. Ignoring that thought for a minute, I walk to the window. It’s a winter wonderland outside, lit only by the streetlights which all have white snowy Santa hats on top. There has to be at least eighteen inches of snow on most every surface. The cars are buried. The sidewalks are non-existent. I can see a snowplow down the road working its way through the streets, but it’s going to be hours before anything gets cleared.
“I don’t know that you’re going anywhere for a bit,” I say, turning back around. Rory’s eyes jump to mine and I’m sure I just caught her checking out my ass. I grin and add, “You have your laptop, right? Could you work from here today?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Maybe. I wanted to work in the office today since I’ve been off for two weeks.”
“Do you really think anyone will be in the office with all this snow?”
“Oh, Breck, you sweet little Aussie. You know nothing of this wintery world we live in. We don’t let a little bit of snow hold us back.”
“A little bit of snow? Alittlebit of snow? There’s at least a foot and a half out there. Six inches might be doable, but eighteen…”
She stands, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders, and joins me by the windowsill.
“You know… you’re actually a pretty good judge of measurements. Most men don’t know what six inches looks like, let alone eighteen.” She says it with the most deadpan expression, and I tilt my head down to look at her. There’s a beat of silence, then another, and we both burst out laughing.
It feels good to laugh. With her, everything feels good.
I wrap my arm around her and kiss the top of her rosy hair. “How about some coffee while I convince you?”
She pulls back a few inches and smiles. The freckles across her nose and cheeks stand out bright against her pale skin, her turquoise eyes sparkling. “If you insist.” Then she brushes her mouth over mine before sauntering into the kitchen. Her lithe hips sway with every step, and I follow her without another thought.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Rory
Itexted my boss over my first cup of coffee and got the go ahead to work from home. The rest of the marketing department would be doing the same, including our intern Hannah, who I had handling most of our social media the last two weeks.
“Looks like I’m working from here. You’re sure you don’t mind?”
Breck’s head pops up from the stovetop.Please let that be bacon.“So long as you don’t mind us being underfoot whileyou’re working, you’re welcome to work here for as long as you’d like.”
I nod, walking over to sit across the counter from where he’s cooking, and take another long sip of my coffee. I smile when he slides over a steamy plate of eggs and crispy bacon.Yes!
“Thank you.” I sigh.
